Long-time restaurants in Kansas are popular with good reason. You typically have a guarantee that the food is delicious or else these places wouldn't stay in business so long. The service is often wonderful, and most of these iconic spots have comfortable environments that make you feel right at home. While there may be some changes over the years to keep up with the time, oftentimes, these places feel the same as they did decades prior. One of our favorite timeless restaurants in the Sunflower State is Toots Drive-In. It's been a staple of small-town Howard for nearly 70 years! This classic drive-in restaurant has changed some things over the years, but the charming retro vibe and much of the menu are still all about the classics! Read on to discover why this restaurant needs to be a stop on your next road trip through Kansas!
Howard is the county seat of Elk County in the southeast portion of the state. It's got a population of around 600 and has an area of around 0.7 square miles, so it's a very small town.
However, it's home to an iconic restaurant with some extremely delicious food! Toots Drive-In was founded in 1955. It's a no-frills fast food restaurant, but it's got incredible food and such a great small town atmosphere.
You can either grab your food via the drive-thru or eat at one of the tables inside the small dining area. This is one of the more popular restaurants in Howard, but since it's a small town and many get their food to go, there's usually seating available.
The offerings are similar to what you'd expect from a typical fast food restaurant, but it's worth noting that the burgers are massive!
Seriously, you'd better come hungry. Save room for dessert, as there's ice cream, plus delicious homemade pie.
The menu is surprisingly diverse, with a variety of sandwiches and quite a few burger toppings to choose from.
It may not get as much press as some of the restaurants in larger towns, but this is most definitely one of the most iconic restaurants in Kansas and it belongs on any burger lover's bucket list.
Have you visited this classic Kansas diner? Let us know about your meal here in the comments section! For more information about Toots Drive-In in Kansas, check out the Facebook page of this iconic old-school restaurant in Kansas. This is a popular spot along road trips for weary drivers, so make sure you're stocked up with all the essential road trip supplies before you go!
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